FALSE EYELASHES AND THEIR APPLICATION DEVICES

Abstract

FALSE EYELASHES AND THEIR APPLICATION DEVICE A false eyelash system comprises a false eyelash (20) and an applicator (60). The false eyelash (20) has an elongated bridge (22) with a plurality of fibers (30) extending laterally from it. The bridge (22) has a plurality of slots (28) sized to receive keratin fibers through it. A channel extending axially through the bridge (22) is sized and configured to receive an elongated placement element (64) of an applicator (60). Figure for the abstract: 4

Description

Description Title of the invention: FALSE EYELASHES AND DEVICE APPLICABLE TO THESE SUMMARY One embodiment of a false eyelash system includes a false eyelash and an applicator. The false eyelash has an elongated bridge with a plurality of fibers extending laterally from it. The bridge has a plurality of slits sized to receive keratin fibers through it. A channel extending axially through the bridge is sized and configured to receive an elongated placement element of an applicator. In one aspect, the applicator includes a locating element that slides onto the placement element. In another aspect, the placement element is at least partially formed from a shape memory alloy. In another aspect, the placement element is mounted at one end on a handle. In another aspect, the placement element has a stop formed at an end opposite to the handle. In another aspect, each of the plurality of slots extends laterally across a portion of the bridge. In another aspect, the bridge has a circular section, with the canal extending through a central portion of the bridge. In another aspect, at least part of the plurality of slits extends into the channel. In another aspect, the bridge is formed by a flat strip wrapped around a central line. In another aspect, the plurality of fibers are formed in one piece with the flat strip. In another aspect, the flat strip includes at least one thermosetting, thermoplastic, elastomer or polymer. In another aspect, the bridge features an elongated base with a plurality of rings attached to it. In another aspect, the plurality of rings are aligned along the elongated base to define the channel. In another aspect, the spaces between adjacent rings of the plurality of rings define the plurality of slits. In another aspect, the plurality of fibers are formed in one piece with an elongated base. An embodiment of a false eyelash applicator includes a placement element configured to engage with a channel extending axially along a bridge of a false eyelash. In one aspect, the placement element is formed from one or more flexible, deformable, or malleable materials. In another aspect, the placement element is formed from one or more deformable or malleable temperature-sensitive materials. In another aspect, the placement element is formed from a shape memory alloy having at least two distinct phases in response to a change in temperature or applied stress. In another aspect, the false eyelash applicator also includes a locating element mounted to slide along the placement element. In another aspect, the locating element mounted sliding along the placement element includes a disc. In another aspect, the locating element is held in place along the placement element by means of a tight-fitting element (O-ring). In another aspect, the false eyelash applicator also features a spherical tip at the distal end of the placement element. The purpose of this summary is to present a selection of concepts in a simplified form, which are described in greater detail below. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor should it be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The preceding aspects and many related advantages of the disclosed object will be more readily appreciated as they are better understood by referring to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, on which: [Fig.1] The [Fig.1] shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a false eyelash according to aspects of this disclosure; [Fig.2] Fig.2 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of a false eyelash according to aspects of this disclosure; [Fig.3] The [Fig.3] shows an isometric view of an embodiment of an applicator for a false eyelash according to aspects of this disclosure; [Fig. 4] [Fig. 4] shows the applicator of [Fig. 3] with an eyelash engaged with it. in first position; and [Fig.5] Fig.5 shows the applicator of Fig.4 with the eyelash in a second position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The embodiments described in this disclosure relate to prosthetic devices, such as false eyelashes or artificial eyelashes, applied to a user's natural eyelashes (keratinous fibers) to enhance the appearance of eyelashes. These devices, hereinafter referred to as "false eyelashes," are generally made from animal hair or synthetic fibers and combine with the user's natural eyelashes to create the appearance of longer and fuller lashes. False eyelashes are typically the same length as a wearer's eyelid and are applied using an adhesive, such as glue. When the false eyelashes adhere to the eyelid and / or natural eyelashes, they extend outward to mimic the appearance of real eyelashes. The false eyelashes overlap the natural lashes to create the look of a single, full set of lashes. Applying false eyelashes can be difficult and time-consuming. False eyelashes can be tricky to handle when positioning them along the eyelid or natural lashes. Furthermore, during application, the user's hand often partially obstructs their view of the false eyelash. The use of adhesives, commonly employed to hold false eyelashes in place, further complicates the application process. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a false eyelash 20 according to aspects of this disclosure. The eyelash 20 comprises a flexible, elongated bridge 22, sized and configured to be applied to a user's natural eyelash. The bridge 22 has a body 24 with a central channel 26 that defines a centerline 34 and extends along the length of the body 24. A series of parallel slits 28 is formed along the body 24 such that the slits are perpendicular to the centerline 34. Each slit 28 extends at least partially through the channel 26, which extends through the body 24. The slits 28 are sized and configured to match the size and spacing of a typical user's natural eyelashes 100. A plurality of elongated fibers 30 extend laterally from the body 24 of the false eyelash 20. The fibers 30 are sized and positioned to simulate eyelashes that amplify and complement a user's eyelashes 100 when the false eyelash 20 is applied. In one embodiment, the bridge 22 is formed from a polymer material, a fibrous material, or any material having suitable weight and flexibility. In another embodiment, the bridge 22 is made from an elongated flat strip. 32 formed around the central line 34. In one embodiment, at least part of the fibers 30 are in one piece with the flat strip 32. In one embodiment, at least some parts of the eyelash 20 are formed by injection molding, co-molding, extrusion or any other suitable manufacturing technique. Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a false eyelash 40 according to aspects of this disclosure. The eyelash 40 comprises a flexible elongated bridge 42 sized and configured to be applied to a user's eyelash 100. The bridge 42 has an elongated base 44 with a plurality of rings 46 that are attached to or formed with it. For each ring 46, one edge of the ring is connected to the base 44, and the central plane of the ring is generally perpendicular to the elongated base 44. Therefore, the central openings 48 of the rings 46 cooperate to define a channel 50 having a central line 56 that is parallel to the base 44. A plurality of slits 52 are defined by the spaces between the rings 46. Namely, the space between adjacent rings 46 defines a slit 56, and the slits 56 are sized and configured to correspond to a size and spacing of a typical user's natural eyelashes. In one embodiment, the bridge 42 is formed from a polymer material, a fibrous material, or any material having suitable weight and flexibility. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the fibers 54 and / or the rings 46 are formed as a single unit with the elongated base 44. In one embodiment, at least some portions of the eyelash 40 are formed by injection molding, co-molding, extrusion, or any other suitable manufacturing technique. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of an applicator 60 suitable for use with false eyelash embodiments 20, 40 shown respectively in FIGURES 1 and 2. The applicator and the application process will be described here with reference to false eyelash 20, it being understood that the same applicator and the same application process can be used with false eyelash 40 and other disclosed false eyelash embodiments. The applicator includes a handle 62 with an elongated placement element 64 extending from one end thereof. The handle is sized and configured to be held comfortably by a user to control the placement of false eyelash embodiments during application. In one embodiment, the handle 62 is formed from one or more polymer materials, one or more metals, wood, or any other suitable material. In one embodiment, the handle 62 is formed by molding, casting, machining, or any other suitable manufacturing process. The placement element 64 is dimensioned and configured to be received in the channel 26 of the false eyelash 20. In one embodiment, the placement element 64 is formed from a material or a combination of materials that are rigid, flexible, Malleable and / or deformable. In one embodiment, the placement element 64 is formed from one or more temperature-sensitive malleable or deformable materials. In one embodiment, the placement element 64 is formed from a polymer, a metal, or any suitable material or combination of materials. In one embodiment, the placement element 64 is a polymer material with a metallic core. In one embodiment, the placement element 64 is at least partially formed from a shape-memory alloy, which is deformable when cold but returns to its original, undeformed shape when heated. In one embodiment, the shape-memory alloy placement element 64 has at least two distinct phases in response to a change in temperature and / or an applied stress.In one embodiment, the placement element 64 is at least partially formed from a nickel-titanium alloy, i.e., Nitinol. In another embodiment, the placement element 64 is formed by extrusion, molding, casting, or other process or combination of processes. Referring to [Fig. 3], in one embodiment, the free end 66 of the placement element, i.e., the end opposite the handle 62, is rounded or otherwise blunt to facilitate the initial positioning of the applicator 60 against a user's face when applying false eyelashes. Rounding or blunting the free end 66 also provides increased safety by eliminating sharp edges, particularly around the user's eye. A locating element 68 is slidably mounted on the positioning element 64 to locate a false eyelash mounted on the positioning element 64. In one embodiment, the locating element 68 is slidably coupled to the positioning element 64 and configured to be selectively positioned on the positioning element. In one embodiment, the locating element 68 is generally disc-shaped and has a central channel sized and configured to receive the positioning element 64. In one embodiment, one or more compression fitting elements are slidably mounted on the positioning element 64 and restrict the movement of the locating element, i.e., hold the locating element 68 in place relative to the positioning element. In one embodiment, the one or more compression fitting elements are O-rings sized to receive the positioning element 64 through them.In one embodiment, the location element 68 is of any suitable size or shape and is mounted on the placement element 64 to allow selective positioning of the location element 68 along the placement element 64. To apply a false eyelash 20, the user must first ensure that the 20-lash to be applied is sized according to the user's specific needs. The user po- The user positions the applicator 60 near the user's natural eyelash 100 with the stop 66 positioned at one end of the natural eyelash 100. The user then moves the locating element 68 along the placement element 64 until the locating element is near the other end of the natural eyelash 100. Therefore, the distance between the stop 66 and the locating element 68 along the placement element 64 corresponds to the length of a false eyelash 20 to be applied. As the user adjusts the locating element 68 along the placement element 64, they can control the distance between the stop 66 and the locating element 68 according to their preference, and then trim the false eyelash 20 to the desired length using the applicator 60 as a guide. With the locating element 68 positioned on the placement element 64, the user mounts a false eyelash 20 onto the applicator 60 by inserting the placement element 64 through the channel 26 of the bridge 22. That is, the user slides the false eyelash 20 on the placement element 64 until the false eyelash comes into contact with the locating element 68. The user then cuts the false eyelash 20 at the stop 66, thus customizing the length of the eyelash 20 according to the user's personal characteristics and / or preferences, as shown in [Fig.4]. To apply the false eyelash 20, the user applies glue or adhesive to the base of the natural eyelash 100. The user holds the handle 62 of the applicator 60 and positions the applicator so that the false eyelash 20 mounted on it is located close to the user's natural eyelash 100. The locating element 68 and the stop 66 (or the end of the placement element 64) serve as visual markers that help the user position the natural eyelash 100. The false eyelash 20 is pressed against the base of the user's natural eyelash 100 so that the natural eyelashes engage with the slits 28 formed in the body 24 of the false eyelash 20, as shown, for example, in [Fig. 5]. When the natural lashes 100 engage with the slits 28 of the false lash 20, the user moves the applicator 60 to remove the placement element 64 from the channel 26 of the false lash. When the placement element 64 is removed, as shown in [Fig. 5], the false lash 20 remains engaged with the natural lash 100. The user continues to remove the placement element 64 until it is completely detached from the false lash 20, leaving the false lash applied to the user's natural lash 100. In some embodiments, the application of the false eyelash 20 is held by glue or adhesive in combination with the engagement of the natural eyelashes 100 with the slits 28 in the false eyelash 20. In some embodiments, the engagement of the natural eyelashes 100 with the slits 28 in the false eyelash 20 is sufficient to hold the application of the false eyelash 20 without using glue or adhesive. The manufacturing methods of a disclosed false eyelash and its application device offer numerous advantages compared to known false eyelashes and applicators. The applicator with the removable locating disc allows the user to mark the width of the natural lash and then cut the false eyelash to the appropriate width for that specific natural lash. Furthermore, the applicator allows the user to apply a pair of false eyelashes more easily and symmetrically. In addition, the applicator allows the user to apply the false eyelash to the natural lash while positioning it from the side of the eye. Specifically, the user's hand does not obstruct the eye's view during application. Moreover, the false eyelash design allows for a more secure application to the natural lash thanks to the engagement of the natural lashes with the slits of the false eyelashes. In some embodiments, this engagement of the natural lashes with the slits eliminates the need for glue or adhesive. The detailed description presented above in relation to the accompanying drawings, where similar numbers refer to similar elements, is understood as a description of various embodiments of this disclosure and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided solely by way of example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the specific forms disclosed. Similarly, all the steps described herein may be interchangeable with other steps, or combinations of steps, to achieve the same or a substantially similar result. In the preceding description, specific details are presented to provide a thorough understanding of example embodiments of this disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented without incorporating all the specific details. In some cases, well-known process steps have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of this disclosure. Furthermore, it should be noted that the embodiments of this disclosure may employ any combination of features described herein. This application may include references to directions, such as "forward," "backward," "front," "backward," "upward," "downward," "right," "left," "lateral," "median," "in," "out of," "extended," "advanced," "retracted," "proximal," "distal," "central," etc. These references, and other similar references in this application, are intended to help describe and understand the particular embodiment and are not intended to limit this disclosure to those directions or locations. This application may refer to quantities and numbers. Unless specifically indicated, these quantities and numbers should not be considered restrictive, but rather as examples of possible quantities or numbers associated with the This application. In this regard, this application may also use the term "plurality" to refer to a quantity or number. In this regard, the term "plurality" means any number greater than one, for example, two, three, four, five, etc. The terms "about," "approximately," "close to," etc., mean plus or minus 5% of the stated value. For the purposes of this disclosure, the expression "at least one of A and B" is equivalent to "A and / or B" or vice versa, namely, "A" alone, "B" alone, or "A and B." For the purposes of this disclosure, the expression "at least one of A, B, and C," for example, means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C), including all other possible permutations when more than three items are listed. The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of this disclosure have been described in the preceding description. However, aspects of this disclosure that are intended to be protected should not be interpreted as being limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. Furthermore, the embodiments described herein should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. It should be understood that variations and changes may be made by other means, and equivalents may be used, without deviating from the spirit of this disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of this disclosure as claimed. Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, it should be appreciated that various changes can be made to them without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. A false eyelash system, comprising an applicator (60) and a false eyelash (20; 40) having an elongated bridge (22; 42) with a plurality of fibers (30; 54) extending laterally therefrom, the bridge (22; 42) having a plurality of slots (28; 52) sized to receive kera- fibers tines (100) through, a channel (26; 50) extending axially to through the bridge (22; 42) and being sized and configured to receive an elongated placement member (64) of the applicator (60).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the applicator (60) comprises a locating element (68) slidably mounted on the element placement (64).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the placement element (64) is at least partially formed from a memory alloy shape.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the placement element (64) is mounted at one end on a handle (62) of the applicator (60).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the placement element (64) has a stop formed at an end (66) opposite the handle (62) of the applicator (60).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of slots (28) extend laterally across a portion of the bridge (22).

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the bridge (22) has a cross-section circular, the channel (26) extending through a central portion of the bridge {22)

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of slots (28; 52) extends into the channel (26; 50).

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the bridge (22) is formed by a flat strip (32) wrapped around a center line (34).

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of fibers (30) are formed in one piece with the flat strip (32).